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Betty White, a legendary TV star whose career spanned more than eight decades, died Friday, December 31, her longtime agent Jeff Witjas said in a statement to People magazine. She was 99.
Here are some of the most famous people who have died in 2021.
Hall of Fame basketball player Sam Jones, a guard who won 10 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, died Thursday, December 30, at the age of 88. Jones was named one of the NBA's 75 greatest players earlier this year.Focus On Sport/Getty Images
Former US Sen. Harry Reid, the scrappy Democratic leader who spearheaded epic legislative battles through three decades in Congress, died Tuesday, December 28, at the age of 82, according to a statement released by his wife. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.Joe Buglewicz/The New York Times/Redux
Legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden died December 28 at the age of 85. Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2006. He led the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl win in 1977.Dennis Desprois/Getty Images
Sarah Weddington, an attorney in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, died on Sunday, December 26. She was 76. Weddington helped represent Norma McCorvey, known in court documents as Jane Roe, in the case that affirmed the legality of a woman's right to have an abortion.Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Acclaimed film director Jean-Marc Vallée, who helmed the 2013 drama "Dallas Buyers Club," died December 26 at the age of 58.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in his native South Africa, died on December 26. He was 90.Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images
Artist Wayne Thiebaud, whose paintings breathed color into the everyday symbols of post-war America, died Saturday, December 25, at the age of 101.Susan Watts/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Nationally acclaimed writer Joan Didion died December 23 due to complications from Parkinson's disease, her publicist confirmed to CNN. Didion was 87. Her memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking," won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2005.Janet Fries/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Former US Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georgia who held a long career in politics, died on December 19. He was 76. Isakson was a senator for nearly 15 years until he resigned from office in 2019, citing health concerns.J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Carlos Marín, one quarter of the pop-opera group Il Divo, died December 19 at the age of 53. Marín had been performing with the band in December before their tour was postponed "due to illness." The nature of his illness wasn't immediately disclosed, nor was his cause of death.Adrián Monroy/Medios y Media/Getty Images
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers, whose landmark buildings include the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the 3 World Trade Center tower in New York, died December 18 at the age of 88.Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images
bell hooks -- the beloved poet, author, feminist and professor -- died December 15 at the age of 69. Known for her writing on race, gender and sexuality, hooks published more than 30 books over the course of her lifetime, including 1981's "Ain't I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism" and 1999's "All About Love."Monica Almeida/The New York Times/Redux
Singer Vicente Fernandez died on December 12, according to a post published on his official Instagram account. He was 81. Known as El Rey, the king of Mexican music, Fernandez recorded more than 300 songs, sold more than 65 million albums worldwide and won three Grammys and eight Latin Grammys.Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty Images
Anne Rice, author of the best-selling "Vampire Chronicles" novel series, died on December 11, her son announced on social media. Rice was 80. She passed away due to complications resulting from a stroke, Christopher Rice said. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Michael Nesmith, a singer and guitarist for the hit group the Monkees, died on December 10, according to his bandmate Micky Dolenz. He was 78.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Demaryius Thomas, who played 10 seasons in the NFL and is considered one of the best wide receivers in Denver Broncos history, was found dead at his home in Roswell, Georgia on December 10, according to officials. He was 33 years old. Based on preliminary information, his death stemmed from a medical issue, Officer Tim Lupo of the Roswell Police Department said in an email to CNN.Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Lina Wertmüller, a central figure of Italian cinema and the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award in the best director category, died on December 9. She was 93.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage/Getty Images
Bob Dole, the former US senator and presidential candidate, died on December 5, according to a statement released by his family. He was 98. Dole was a Republican Party stalwart who espoused a brand of plain-spoken conservatism, and he was one of Washington's most recognizable political figures throughout the latter half of the 20th century.Reuters
Longtime Atlanta Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey died December 4 at the age of 77. He played in six Pro Bowls during his Hall of Fame career.AP
Edward Shames, the last surviving officer of the historic World War II parachute infantry regiment known as Easy Company, died December 4 at the age of 99.Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Lee Elder, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters, died at the age of 87, the PGA Tour confirmed on November 29.AP
Louis Vuitton artistic director and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh died of cancer on November 28, according to a tweet by luxury group LVMH. He was 41.Andrew White/The New York Times/Redux
Frank Williams, the founder of the Williams Formula 1 team and the longest-serving team principal the sport has ever seen, died at the age of 79 on November 28. The Williams F1 team, founded in 1977, dominated much of the 1980s and 1990s under his guidance.Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Eddie Mekka, who found fame playing Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa on the hit series "Laverne & Shirley," died on November 27, according to his official Facebook account. He was 69.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
Hall of Fame football player Curley Culp died on November 27, according to a statement from his family. He was 75. The 14-year NFL veteran was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.Debby Wong/Alamy Stock Photo
Stephen Sondheim, the renowned composer of "Into the Woods," "Sweeney Todd," "Gypsy," "Sunday in the Park with George" and other essential works of musical theater, died November 26, according to the New York Times. He was 91.Ted Thai/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Malikah Shabazz, a daughter of slain civil rights activist Malcolm X, died on November 23, according to the New York Police Department. She was 56. Police said her death appeared to be due to natural causes.Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News/TNS/Getty Images
Actor Art LaFleur -- known for his roles in "The Sandlot" and "Field of Dreams" -- died at the age of 78, his wife said in a statement on November 18.Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP
Rapper Young Dolph died in a fatal shooting in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 17, according to Memphis police. He was 36.Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Heath Freeman, an actor who appeared in numerous television series including "Bones," "NCIS" and "The Closer," has died, his manager said in a statement to CNN on November 16. Freeman was 41. A cause of death was not immediately released.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Julio Lugo, the Dominican-born shortstop who won a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox, died at the age 45, the Red Sox said on November 15. No cause of death was given. Lugo's career also included stints with the Houston Astros, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Baltimore Orioles and the Atlanta Braves.Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
NPR books editor Petra Mayer died November 13 at the age of 46, NPR reported. The cause of death was believed to be a pulmonary embolism, Nancy Barnes, NPR's senior vice president for news, said in an email to staff. Mayer was a popular editor on NPR's Culture desk, drawing in readers and listeners with her outpouring of knowledge of cats, comics and science fiction, as well as her on-site reporting at Comic-Con.Allison Shelley/NPR/AP
Hall of Fame football linebacker Sam Huff died at the age of 87 on November 13, Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder said in a statement. Huff made five Pro Bowls over a 13-year career, won an NFL title with the New York Giants in 1956 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982.Dan Rubin/Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images
FW de Klerk, the last leader of apartheid-era South Africa who shared a Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela after working to end racial segregation in the country, died at the age of 85, his foundation said on November 11. De Klerk released Mandela, his subsequent successor, from prison and laboriously negotiated a transition to democracy, ending a decades-long segregationist system that kept South Africa's White minority in power over the Black majority for generations.Roger Askew/Shutterstock
Actor Jerry Douglas, best known for his role as family patriarch John Abbott on the CBS soap opera "The Young and the Restless," died November 9 at the age of 88.Monty Brinton/CBS/Getty Images
Former New York Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano died November 8 at age 45, the team confirmed in a statement. The cause of death was not immediately released. Feliciano, a pitching stalwart for the Mets, led the league in appearances in three consecutive seasons from 2008-10. He was also the last pitcher to throw in more than 90 games in a season.Ralph Freso/Getty Images
Ronnie Wilson, a founding member of the R&B group The Gap Band, died November 2 at the age of 73. Wilson, who can be seen here in the center of the top row, formed the band with his brothers Charlie and Robert, according to the band's website. Their best-known songs include "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," "Party Train" and "Burn Rubber on Me."Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Jerry Remy, the beloved longtime Boston Red Sox broadcaster and former Major League Baseball infielder, died October 30 after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, the team announced. He was 68.Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Indian actor Puneeth Rajkumar died after suffering cardiac arrest on October 29, according to a statement from Vikram Hospital in the city of Bangalore. He was 46. Rajkumar was a popular actor, television presenter, singer and producer known for his work in Kannada cinema, which makes movies and television in the Kannada language spoken in the southwestern state of Karnataka.Kumar Movies/Courtesy Everett Collection
James Michael Tyler, best known as the coffee shop manager Gunther on the hit show "Friends," died at the age of 59 on October 24, according to his representative Toni Benson. Tyler was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, Benson said. Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images
Peter Scolari, a veteran actor who rose to fame alongside Tom Hanks on "Bosom Buddies," died on October 22. He was 66. Scolari had cancer and had been ill for two years, according to his manager.Denis Plehn/ABC/Getty Images
Colin Powell, a trailblazing military leader who went on to become the United States' first Black secretary of state, died October 18 at the age of 84. Powell died from complications from Covid-19, his family said on Facebook, noting he was fully vaccinated. Powell had multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that suppresses the body's immune response, as well as Parkinson's disease, Peggy Cifrino, Powell's longtime chief of staff, confirmed to CNN.Jerome Delay/AFP/Getty Images
Betty Lynn, best known for playing Barney Fife's girlfriend, Thelma Lou, on "The Andy Griffith Show," died on October 16, the Andy Griffith Museum said. She was 95.20th Century-Fox/Film Favorites/Getty Images
Deon Estus, a singer and musician who played bass guitar for the '80s pop group Wham!, died on October 11, according to a post on his Twitter page. He was 65. In addition to playing and touring with Wham!, Estus had collaborations with Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Elton John, Aaron Neville and other artists.Ollie Millington/Redferns/Getty Images
Actor Willie Garson, a veteran actor known for his work on the "Sex and the City" series and films, died at the age of 57, his son Nathen Garson announced on September 21.Michael Bezjian/WireImage/WireImage
Melvin Van Peebles, a groundbreaking African American director who helped champion a new wave of modern Black cinema in the 1970s, died on September 21, his son Mario Van Peebles announced. He was 89. Van Peebles' numerous film credits include "Watermelon Man" and "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song."Paul Charbit/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Jimmy Greaves, a World Cup winner with England in 1966 and one of the most prolific goalscorers in English football history, died on September 19, his former club Tottenham said. Greaves, seen on the right in this photo from 1963, was 81.Roger Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images
Actor Gavan O'Herlihy, best known for his brief role as the eldest Cunningham son on the sitcom "Happy Days," has died at the age of 70 on September 15, his agent said.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
Norm Macdonald, a comic who was beloved as an anchor of "Saturday Night Live's" popular "Weekend Update" segments, died on September 14, according to multiple reports citing his manager. He was 61. Macdonald had been battling cancer for several years but kept his diagnosis private, his friend and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told CNN in a statement.Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC/Getty Images
Art Metrano, a stand-up comedian best known for his role as ruthless police captain Ernie Mauser in two "Police Academy" films, died September 8 at the age of 84.Fred Sabine/NBC/Getty Images
Michael K. Williams, an actor best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO's "The Wire," was found dead in his New York apartment, a law enforcement official told CNN on September 6. He was 54. Williams amassed a number of accolades during his career, including five Emmy nominations. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Legendary French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo died at the age of 88, his lawyer, Michel Godest, said on September 6. He was best known for his breakthrough performance as the dangerous yet romantic criminal Michel in the 1960 film "Breathless," where he worked with film director Jean-Luc Godard and starred alongside American actress Jean Seberg.Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images
Willard Scott, the former longtime weatherman for "Today" who was known for his outgoing, jovial personality, died at the age of 87, according to the NBC show on September 4.NBC NewsWire/Getty Images
Former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Tunch Ilkin died September 4 at the age of 63, according to a statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II. Ilkin was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in September 2020.George Gojkovich/Getty Images
David Patten, a former NFL wide receiver who helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls between 2001 and 2004, died September 2, according to a statement from the Patriots. Patten, 47, died in a motorcycle crash.Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Actor Michael Constantine, best known for playing the proud father in the hit movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," died August 31 following a long illness, according to an article in the Reading Eagle that was confirmed to CNN by his agent. He was 94.Harold Hoch/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images
Veteran actor Ed Asner, best known for his role as the crusty but lovable newsman Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died August 29, according to his publicist. He was 91.Mickey Adair/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Former International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge died August 29, according to an announcement by the organization. He was 79.Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images
Charlie Watts, the unassuming son of a truck driver who gained global fame as the drummer for the Rolling Stones, died August 24 at the age of 80.Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Former hockey player Jimmy Hayes, who played seven seasons in the NHL and won an NCAA hockey championship at Boston College, died August 23 at the age of 31. The cause of his death was not disclosed, the Boston Globe reported.Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Hall of Fame hockey player Rod Gilbert, who earned the nickname "Mr. Ranger" while playing his entire 18-season career with the New York Rangers, died on August 22. He was 80.Steve Babineau/NHLI/Getty Images
Don Everly, the last of the silken-voiced Everly Brothers music duo, died August 21 at the age of 84. He's on the right here performing with his younger brother, Phil, in 1962. The two became pop idols in the late 1950s with chart-topping hits such as "Bye Bye Love," "All I Have to Do is Dream" and "Wake Up Little Susie."Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Igor Vovkovinskiy, who in 2010 was crowned the tallest living man in the United States, died August 20 at the age of 38. Vovkovinskiy, who was 7 feet, 8.33 inches tall, died in a hospital from heart disease, according to a Facebook post from his mother.Renee Jones Schneider/Minneapolis Star Tribune/Sipa USA
Singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall died August 20 at the age of 85, according to his son. Hall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
Artist Chuck Close, whose large-scale portraits immortalized friends, artists and some of pop culture's most recognizable faces, died August 19 at the age of 81.Henning Kaiser/DDP/AFP/Getty Images
Sonny Chiba, a ferociously talented martial artist whose international renown grew with films like "The Street Fighter" and the "Kill Bill" series, died from Covid-19 complications, his representative Timothy Beal confirmed to CNN on August 19. Chiba was 82.Entertainment Pictures/Alamy
Japanese puzzle maker Maki Kaji died August 10 from bile duct cancer. Kaji, 69, was known as the "godfather of Sudoku" for his hand in bringing the puzzle to the masses. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
Hall of Fame hockey player Tony Esposito died August 10 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a statement from the Chicago Blackhawks. He was 78. Esposito was a six-time NHL All-Star, including five straight seasons between 1970 and 1974. He won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the league three times -- 1970, 1972 and 1974 -- and was named the NHL's top rookie in 1970.Focus On Sport/Getty Images
Bobby Bowden, the famed college football coach who led Florida State University for more than 30 years and transformed the Tallahassee team into a powerhouse, died Sunday, August 8, the school said in a statement. He was 91.Phil Coale/AP
Markie Post, the actress known for her roles in "Night Court" and "The Fall Guy," died Saturday, August 7. She was 70.Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas, often referred to as "Dee Tee," died August 7 at the age of 70. Known for classics like "Celebration," "Jungle Boogie" and "Cherish," Kool & the Gang bill themselves as having performed "longer than any R&B group in history."Joe Gill/The Express-Times/AP
Trevor Moore, comedian, actor, producer and co-founder of the sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U Know, died Friday, August 6, at the age of 41. Moore died "in a tragic accident," according to the statement.FilmMagic/Getty Images
Jay Pickett, a veteran soap opera actor best known for his roles on "General Hospital," "Days of Our Lives" and "Port Charles," died July 30 at the age of 60. He was on location in Idaho, filming a scene for his upcoming movie, "Treasure Valley," when he died, according to the film's director, Travis Mills.Jeff Katz/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Carl Levin, a former US senator from Michigan who advanced Democratic priorities throughout his 36-year tenure in Congress, died July 29 at the age of 87. Levin was the longest-serving US senator in Michigan's history.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Actor Saginaw Grant, known for his roles in "Breaking Bad" and "The Lone Ranger," died July 28, according to his publicist Lani Carmichael. He was 85.JB Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images
Dusty Hill, the bearded bassist from blues-rock band ZZ Top, died at the age of 72, according to the band's official website on July 28.Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Infomercial king Ron Popeil died July 28 at the age of 86. Although his company Ronco was already a household name in the 1970s, Popeil's fame exploded in the '80s when looser federal regulations on TV ads allowed him to go from brief commercials to 30-minute self-contained "infomercials," which soon dominated late-night and weekend schedules.Reed Saxon/AP
Civil rights legend Bob Moses died July 25 at the age of 86, according to a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson and a statement from the organization's Legal Defense Fund.Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Comedian Jackie Mason, known for his rapid-fire befuddled observations in a decades-long stand-up career, died July 24 at the age of 93, longtime friend and collaborator Raoul Felder told CNN.Mike Abrahams/Alamy
Rapper Biz Markie, best known for his lighthearted 1989 hit "Just a Friend," died July 16 at the age of 57, his manager told CNN. Markie also expanded his career to include acting, appearing in several films and TV shows, including "Men in Black II" and "Yo Gabba Gabba."Shahar Azran/WireImage/Getty Images
Actor and filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. died July 7 at the age of 85. He is perhaps best known for his films "Putney Swope" and "Greaser's Palace." He also appeared in "Boogie Nights," "Magnolia" and "To Live and Die in L.A."Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Suzzanne Douglas, an accomplished stage and screen actress who starred in the film "Tap" and the television series "The Parent 'Hood," died in July at the age of 64, her representative told CNN in a statement. No cause of death was shared.Angela Weiss/Getty Images
Richard Donner, an accomplished Hollywood producer and director known for his work on the "Lethal Weapon" franchise and "The Goonies," died on July 5. He was 91.Vaerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images
Terry Donahue, a longtime UCLA football coach, died July 4 at the age of 77, the school announced. Donahue died after a two-year battle with cancer, the school said.Nick Ut/AP
Donald Rumsfeld, the acerbic architect of the Iraq War and a master Washington power player who served as US secretary of defense for two presidents, died at the age of 88, his family announced on June 30.Shaun Heasley/Getty Images
Former US Sen. Mike Gravel, an Alaska Democrat who garnered national attention by reading the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record and waged two unsuccessful bids for president, died June 26 at the age of 91.Charles Dharapak/AP
Qatari sprinter Abdalelah Haroun, who won bronze in the 400 meters at the 2017 World Championships, died June 26 at the age of 24. The Qatar Olympic Committee, which announced Haroun's death on social media, did not say how he died.Matt Dunham/AP
Daredevil Alex Harvill died June 17 while practicing for a world-record motorcycle ramp jump, officials in Washington state said. He was 28. Harvill was hoping to break the record of a 351-foot jump, according to the Moses Lake Airshow, where his attempt was scheduled.From Alex Harvill/Facebook
Actor Frank Bonner, best known for his role as an overconfident sales manager in the TV sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati," died on June 16, his daughter Desiree Boers-Kort told CNN. He was 79.CBS/Getty Images
Actress Lisa Banes, who appeared in numerous television series and films such as "Gone Girl," died June 14 after suffering injuries sustained from being hit by a scooter in New York, the NYPD and a law enforcement official told CNN. She was 65.Jeff Vespa/WireImage/Getty Images
Ned Beatty, an Oscar-nominated character actor whose many films include "Deliverance" and "Superman," died June 13 at the age of 83.Alamy
Clarence Williams III, who played Linc Hayes in "The Mod Squad," died at his home in Los Angeles after battling colon cancer, his manager Peg Donegan told CNN in a statement on June 6. Williams was 81.Raphael/TV Guide/Everett Collection
David Dushman, the last surviving soldier who helped liberate Auschwitz-Birkenau, died June 5 at the age of 98, the Jewish community of Munich and Upper Bavaria said in a statement on its website.Markus Hein/NurPhoto/Getty Images
F. Lee Bailey, a prominent and controversial defense attorney, died June 3 at the age of 87. His death was confirmed to CNN by Jennifer Sisson, a manager at Bailey's consulting firm. Bailey was best known for his participation in the successful defenses of high-profile clients, including O.J. Simpson.Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Gavin MacLeod, known for his roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Love Boat," died on May 29, his nephew Mark See told Variety. He was 90.Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Grammy-winning singer B.J. Thomas died May 29 of complications from lung cancer, his publicist said. Thomas was 78. He was propelled to stardom in 1970 when he was chosen to perform "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."GAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images
Former Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton died at the age of 64, the team confirmed in a statement on May 29. Eaton was found unconscious near his home in Summit County, Utah, after being involved in what appeared to be a bicycle crash, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Eaton was transported to a nearby hospital where he died. Eaton was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and has the fourth-most blocks in league history. He still holds the record for most blocked shots in a season, amassing 456 blocks during the 1984-85 season.Mike Powell/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
John Warner, who represented Virginia in the US Senate for three decades and was widely respected for his views on military affairs, died May 25 at the age of 94.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Samuel E. Wright, the actor who voiced Sebastian the crab in Disney's "The Little Mermaid" and sang the film's Oscar-winning song "Under the Sea," died May 24 at the age of 74.Mario Ruiz/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Eric Carle, the author and artist of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and dozens of other popular children's books, died on May 23. He was 91. Richard Drew/AP
Paul Mooney, an actor-comedian famous for starring on "Chappelle's Show" and "Bamboozled," died on May 19, according to a rep for the actor. He was 79.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Charles Grodin, a versatile comedic actor best known for his roles in movies like "Midnight Run" and "The Heartbreak Kid," died May 18 after battling cancer, according to his son. He was 86.Everett Collection
Colt Brennan, a former football quarterback who starred at the University of Hawaii, died at a California hospital at the age of 37, his family confirmed to CNN on May 11. His sister, Carrera Shea, said he had been in a long-term rehab facility and relapsed. Brennan set the NCAA single-season record for touchdown passes when he threw 58 of them in 2006. That record was eclipsed by LSU's Joe Burrow in 2019. Ronen Zilberman/AP
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Lloyd Price died at the age of 88, his longtime manager confirmed to CNN on May 9. Price was called "Mr. Personality" for his smash recording of "Personality," and he was known for adapting the New Orleans sound starting in the 1950s with hits such as "Stagger Lee" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Pervis Staples, one of the founding members of the legendary Chicago gospel group the Staple Singers, died on May 6, according to a funeral home notice and Facebook post. He was 85. Staples is seen here, third from left, along with the rest of the Staple Singers.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Nick Kamen, a British model and singer who appeared in a famous 1985 Levi's commercial, died at the age of 59, his family confirmed to the PA Media news agency on May 5. Kamen also collaborated with Madonna on the 1986 record "Each Time you Break my Heart."Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance/Getty Images
Race car driver Bobby Unser, winner of the 1968, 1975 and 1981 Indianapolis 500s, died May 2 at the age of 87. Unser is one of 10 drivers to win the prestigious Indy 500 at least three times, and he was the first driver to win the race in three different decades.ISC Images & Archives/Getty Images
Actress Olympia Dukakis, who won an Oscar for her role in the 1987 film "Moonstruck," died on May 1, according to her agent. She was 89.MGM/Shutterstock
Former New York Jets football player Pete Lammons died in an accident during a fishing tournament in Texas on April 29, according to tournament officials and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He was 77. Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/AP
Michael Collins, the NASA astronaut who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, died April 28 after battling cancer, according to a statement released by his family. He was 90. NASA
Geno Hayes, a former NFL linebacker, died April 26, according to his former high school football coach Frankie Carroll. The cause of death was related to liver disease, Carroll said. Hayes played at Florida State University before going on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was 33.Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
Celebrated fashion designer Alber Elbaz, perhaps best known for his work at Yves Saint Laurent and Lanvin, died of Covid-19 on April 24, a spokesperson for the luxury fashion company Richemont told CNN. Elbaz was 59.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Walter "Fritz" Mondale, who served as vice president under President Jimmy Carter before waging his own unsuccessful White House bid in 1984, died on April 19. He was 93.AP
Helen McCrory, the British actress best known for her roles in the Harry Potter films and the TV series "Peaky Blinders," died April 16 at the age of 52. Her husband, actor Damian Lewis, tweeted that she died "peacefully at home" after a "heroic battle with cancer."Tim Whitby/BFC/Getty Images
Prince Philip, the lifelong companion of Queen Elizabeth II and the longest-serving consort in British history, died on April 9. He was 99.Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images
DMX, a rapper known as much for his troubles as his music, died after being hospitalized following a heart attack, according to a statement released by his family on April 9. He was 50. The Grammy-nominated artist sold millions of albums, boosted by hits like "Get At Me Dog" in 1998, "Party Up" in 1999 and "X Gon' Give It to Ya" in 2003.Kevin Winter/Getty Images
US Rep. Alcee Hastings, a civil rights activist and the longest-serving member of Florida's congressional delegation, died at the age of 84, his chief of staff Lale M. Morrison told CNN on April 6.Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images
G. Gordon Liddy -- a former FBI agent, organizer of the Watergate break-in and radio show host -- died March 30 at the age of 90, his son confirmed to CNN.Ed Reinke/AP
Children's book author Beverly Cleary died March 25 at the age of 104, her publishing company announced. Cleary's books have sold more than 85 million copies and were translated into 29 different languages.Christina Koci Hernandez/San Francisco Chronicle by Getty Images
Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Larry McMurtry died March 25 at the age of 84, according to his publicist. McMurtry won the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for the novel "Lonesome Dove."Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
Jessica Walter, an award-winning actress beloved for her role in the television series "Arrested Development," died March 24, her daughter confirmed in a statement to CNN. She was 80.Getty Images
George Segal, a prolific actor with a career that spanned more than six decades, died at age 87, his wife said on March 23. Segal received an Oscar nomination in 1966 for his role in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"Rick Rowell/Walt Disney Television/ABC/Getty Images
Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, who played for the Lakers for 14 seasons and was an All-Star 11 times, died March 22 at the age of 86. NBAE via Getty Images
Elsa Peretti, the famed jewelry designer for Tiffany & Co., died on March 18, according to her foundation. She was 80. "A masterful artisan, Elsa was responsible for a revolution in the world of jewelry design," said a statement from Tiffany. "Her collections of organic, sensual forms have inspired generations."PL Gould/Images Press/Getty Images
Yaphet Kotto, an actor known for bringing gravitas to his roles across television and film, died March 14, according to his agent. He was 81. Kotto's notable film work includes roles in "Alien," "The Running Man," "Midnight Run" and "Live and Let Die," in which he played iconic Bond villain Mr. Big. In television, his longest-running role was as Lt. Al Giardello on NBC's "Homicide: Life on the Street."NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Former boxing champion "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler died March 13 at the age of 66, according to his wife. Hagler dominated the middleweight division for nearly a decade.Focus On Sport/Getty Images
Lou Ottens, the Dutch inventor of the cassette tape, died at the age of 94, his family confirmed to CNN on March 11.Jerry Lampen/ANP/Newscom
Jahmil French, an actor known for his role as Dave Turner on the Canadian series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," died on March 1, according to his manager, Gabrielle Kachman. He was 29. No details on the cause of death were made available.Michael Loccisano/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Vernon Jordan, a civil rights leader and close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, died on March 1, multiple sources close to the family told CNN. He was 85.AP
Broadcasting pioneer and former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Irv Cross died on February 28, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on the team's website. He was 81. Cross was the first African American sports analyst on national television when he worked for CBS Sports as an NFL analyst and commentator from 1971 to 1994.George Rose/Getty Images
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the Beat poet, publisher and founder of San Francisco's beloved City Lights bookstore, died February 22 at the age of 101. Ferlinghetti was one of the last surviving members of the Beat Generation, and he played a key role in expanding the literary movement's focus to the West Coast.Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images
Rush Limbaugh, the conservative media icon who for decades used his perch as the king of talk radio to shape the politics of both the Republican Party and nation, died February 17 after a battle with cancer. He was 70.Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Johnny Pacheco, considered the "godfather of salsa" for popularizing the Latin musical genre, died at the age of 85 according to his wife and and former record label on February 15.Wilfredo Lee/AP
Renowned jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea died from "a rare form of cancer," a statement on the musician's website said on February 11. He was 79. Over a career that spanned more than 50 years, Corea worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann and Miles Davis.David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
Larry Flynt, the Hustler magazine founder and outspoken First Amendment activist who built an adult entertainment empire, died on February 10, his nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr., told CNN. He was 78.Steve Grayson/WireImage/Getty Images
Mary Wilson, a founding member of "The Supremes," died on February 8 at the age of 76, according to a statement from her longtime friend and publicist, Jay Schwartz.WIll Jacks/WireImage/Getty Images
George P. Shultz, who played a central role in helping to bring the Cold War to an end as President Ronald Reagan's secretary of state, died February 6 at the age of 100, according to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University where he worked for over 30 years.Cynthia Johnson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Susan Bayh, the former first lady of Indiana, died February 5 from complications due to glioblastoma, her family announced. She was 61. Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star/USA Today Network
Christopher Plummer, the elegantly voiced, Oscar-winning actor perhaps most fondly remembered for "The Sound of Music," died February 5 at the age of 91.20th Century Fox/Everett Collection
Dianne Durham, who as a teen became the first Black gymnast to win a USA Gymnastics national championship, died on February 4. She was 52.Lisa Genesen/AP
Dustin Diamond, who played the role of Screech on the popular 1990s high school comedy "Saved by the Bell," died February 1 after a recent cancer diagnosis, according to Diamond's manager, Roger Paul. He was 44.Everett Collection
Cicely Tyson, an award-winning icon of the stage and screen who broke barriers for Black actresses, died on January 28, her longtime manager Larry Thompson confirmed to CNN. She was 96.Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Cloris Leachman, the acclaimed actress whose one-of-a-kind comedic flair made her a legendary figure in film and television for seven decades, died on January 27. She was 94.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images
Corky Lee, an award-winning photographer who captured the everyday lives and political activism of the Asian American community, died January 27 after a battle with Covid-19. He was 73.Scott Sommerdorf/AP
Sekou Smith, an NBA reporter and analyst for more than two decades, died from Covid-19 on January 26. He was 48. Smith covered the NBA for more than two decades, including 11 years with Turner Sports, which, like CNN, is owned by WarnerMedia.John Nowak
Larry King, the longtime CNN host who became an icon through his interviews with countless newsmakers, died January 23 at the age of 87.John Nowak/CNN
Hal Holbrook, a legendary Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, died January 23 at the age of 95. Holbrook portrayed iconic author Mark Twain in one-man shows for more than six decades.Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Hank Aaron, the Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record and lived a life as an ambassador to the game, died January 22 at the age of 86.AP
Hall of Fame baseball player Don Sutton died January 18 at the age of 75, according to a tweet from his son. Sutton, a right-handed pitcher, spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.AP/File
Joanne Rogers, the widow of Fred Rogers, star of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," died at age 92, Fred Rogers Productions announced on January 14.The Fred Rogers Company/Tallahassee Democrat/USA Today Network
Siegfried Fischbacher, an illusionist known for working with exotic cats as one half of Siegfried & Roy, died from pancreatic cancer on January 13. He was 81.Peter Bischoff/Getty Images
Tommy Lasorda, who spent seven decades in the Dodgers organization -- first as a player in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles as a two-time World Series-winning manager -- died January 8 at the age of 93.George Rose/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
British filmmaker and documentarian Michael Apted died January 7 at the age of 79. Apted directed the 1980 movie "Coal Miner's Daughter," which won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the musical and comedy category. Other notable works he directed include "Agatha," "Gorky Park," "Gorillas in the Mist," "Nell," and "Enough."Matt Sayles/AP
Marion Ramsey, the actress best known for her role as Officer Laverne Hooks in the film franchise "Police Academy," died January 7 at the age of 73.Courtesy Everett Collection
Chef and restaurateur Albert Roux died January 4 at the age of 85. Roux founded Britain's first Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche, and revolutionized London's restaurant scene.Marc O'Sullivan/Shutterstock
Gerry Marsden, lead singer of the 1960s British rock band Gerry and the Pacemakers, died of a heart infection at the age of 78, his friend and radio broadcaster Pete Price announced on January 3. Marsden was known for his cover of the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical "Carousel." It became the anthem for his hometown football team, Liverpool FC.Stanley Bielecki/ASP/Getty Images
Former NBA player and coach Paul Westphal died January 2 after a battle with brain cancer, according to the University of Southern California. He was 70. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Westphal "one of the great all around players of his era." He won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 1974.Focus On Sport/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Hall of Fame football player Floyd Little died January 1 at the age of 78. Little rushed for more than 6,000 yards and scored 43 touchdowns for the Denver Broncos.Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
